Shahbaz Bhatti murder case disposed of, suspect acquitted

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A friend of Shahbaz Bhatti weeps as he looks at the of the former minorities minister after he was attacked in Islamabad in March, 2011. A court in Rawalpindi disposed of the murder case of Bhatti, for lack of evidence against the suspect.
A friend of Shahbaz Bhatti weeps as he looks at the of the former minorities minister after he was attacked in Islamabad in March, 2011. A court in Rawalpindi disposed of the murder case of Bhatti, for lack of evidence against the suspect. – File photo by AP

RAWALPINDI: A man booked for being allegedly involved in the murder of former minorities minister Shahbaz Bhatti, was acquitted by an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Saturday.

In the ATC-II hearing held by Special Judge Rana Masood in Rawalpindi, acquitted Zia-ur-Rehman and disposed of the case after an SHO of the I-9 Police Station in Islamabad said that no evidence was found against Rehman.

Zulfiqar Maloka, defence counsel, withdrew his bail plea after the court gave its decision.

Rehman was arrested in Dubai on Feb 13, 2012 for his alleged involvement in the murder of Shahbaz Bhatti, who was assassinated outside his residence on March 1, 2011.

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